The Chargers have been a tough defense to read so far this season. For much of the preseason, I speculated that Donald Butler was poised for a breakout year based on his high tackle frequency of over 15% in a two-down role last season. This year, he’s playing all three downs, but his tackle frequency has dipped to 10.9%. Butler’s play has been generally uninspiring, but there is a silver lining. Last weekend, he topped double-digit total tackles for just the second time this season with five solos and six assists against the Browns. Butler may not be the elite LB1 we hoped he would be, but he’s still a viable LB2 option this week and moving forward. Kansas City has been extremely friendly to safeties this season, which means a matchup boost for Eric Weddle (who had a pick the last time these two teams met) and Atari Bigby.

The bye week does a body good, especially if your name is Derrick Johnson. Last weekend against the Raiders, Johnson looked to be fully recovered from the groin injury that slowed him earlier in the season. He posted double-digit solo tackles for the second straight game, and guess what, this week he faces a Chargers team that gives up the most tackles per game to opposing LBs. Johnson is an elite LB option. Tamba Hali and Justin Houston were quiet in Week 8, but both matchup very well against this Chargers offensive line that has been susceptible to the pass rush this season. Get them in your lineup in big play leagues. Eric Berry has been an extreme disappointment this season, but I do like him in this matchup. No team yields more fantasy points per game than the Chargers do to opposing safeties. Berry is a solid DB2 play.

Jeff Ratcliffe is the IDP Editor and a Senior Fantasy Writer for Pro Football Focus Fantasy. Follow him on Twitter – @JeffRatcliffe